Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-09-08


Il when she came to my room in the morn
ing. also left the bit OF gold given me
by Oliver Dudley so long before, and which
until now, had been the most precious thing
in the world to me. But did not value it
now he was no longer my friend; but nv
heart ached with dull, hard ache as I
held the trirket in my hand, and then let it
drop beside the letter, mute token of a dis
solved promise, thought, drearily
Then / crept to bed and lay half waking
half sleeping until the first gray streaks Of
dawn began, TO tighten the east Then
arose and donnod my hat and sacque, and,
taking my bundle, stole noislessly as O
shadow along the hall and out at a side en-
trance. unfastencd tho door and gained thS
grounds, through which sped and reached
the gate unseen by the watchdog that ]
greatly feared. The gate was fastened
but managed to creep through the bars
and then l stood upon the highway.
turned and gave one long, last look at the
house had known for five long weary
years and which presumed was leaving
forever.
What massive pile of masonry it was,
standing out dimly IN the gray Light How
proudly did it seem to stare at me with its
many-windowed eyes, as if scorning the
humble waif who stood alone in the dusty
road, gazing up at it with mixed feelings of
awe and regret But it had been naught to
me but hateful prison house, said, as /
hurried away. Why should l rNgrct leaving
It. So trudged on, little dreaming how
should again enter the gates of Caledon
Heights, or what a strange, new life lay be-
fore me.
My intention was to go to the city, and
there, |, like all people, especially young
and ignorant ones, imagined l could fund
employment Maggie had often told me of
a niece of hers who earned good wages as
nursery girl, and a certain cousin who
had nothing at al to do bat attend one little
fellow, or child rather, and received the
sum of two dollars a week and board, be-
sides many of her mistress cast-off gar
ments, which, Maggie declared, were as
good as new. Hearing this, / did not
doubt but should soon find a place where
my services would be gratefully received.
/ did not stop to think that these people
would be very likely to inquire from
whence l came and what recommendation
had. But was very ignorant of the
world, the reader must remember, having
never been outside the gates of Caledon,
scarcely, nor into a town or village OF. any
this, you children, to whom journey of
hundreds of miles is never thought of ex-
cept as a trifling occurrence.
had with me small sum of money which
had saved by doing odd jobs for the serv-
ants at Caledon; yet the whole sum did not
exceed two dollars. But was free, said,
as l walked on; better starve in freedom
than live in bondage.
had calculated that the distance to the
city could not be over five miles, but in my
confusion | must have taken a longer route,
for | walked briskly nearly the whole fore
noon, and still / saw no sign that | was
nearing it. The road, too, grew narrow,
and had an untraveled look that alarmed
me. was faint and thirsty, too, from hav-
ing Travelled so far, but disliked to stop at
any of the farm-houses l passed, for people,
though kind-hearted in the main, would be
apt TO look with suspicion on stranger
plodding alone on the public highway
But toward noon, unable to endure longer
the pangs Of hunger and thirst, stopped at
a small house on the edge of a field where a.
woman was drawing water from well, and
timidly asked for q drink, and to stop and
rest for little while. She sourly complied
with my request, glancing suspiciously at
my bundle the while.
entered the house and sank down on the
chair she pushed toward me, almost too tired
TO do more than breathe. She was prepar-
ing dinner, and the smell of the victuals
made me ravenous. ] had not tasted food
since dinner the previous day, and it was
small wonder ] was faint and hungry.
,ould not starve, and asked the woman for
breakfast. She had not spoken since had
entered the house, evidently being in a fit
Of sulks about something. She spoke now,
though, wondering viciously what ! was
sramping about the country asking break
last at this hour for. did not answer her,
and she. seeing how pale and wan looked,
perhaps relented, for she placed some vic
nals and glass of milk on the table, and
babe me sit up and cat. did so, and hay
ing finished | offered the woman bit Of
silver in payment, half hoping she would not
take it; but inthis l was mistaken, her small
gray eyes glittered as she clutched it eager
ly, and she asked, quickly
"Ye've plenty of this | suppose, girlp' at
the same time laying her large hand on my
shoulder.
"Only a very little" answered steadily,
though my heart beat nearly TO sufIocation
30 frightened was ], for 1 judged from the
woman's looks she would not hesitate to do
me an injury. Brs at that instant horse
man passed, seeing which 1 grasped my
bundle and fled hastily down the road be-
hind him, only too glad to escape my vicious
looking hostess, but greatly refreshed by
the nourishment had taken.
l had intended to have made some in
euiries in regard to the road / must take to
reach Baltimore; but in my fright had for
gotten it. So / wandered on, only pausing
to rest short time in wooded dell where